From Lo Debar

2 Samuel 9:3-8,13 NKJV

Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet." [4] So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar." [5] Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. [6] Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Here is your servant!" [7] So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually." [8] Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?" [13] So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet.

I love this story, a story of compassion and kindness.

Mephibosheth had nothing to recommend himself to the king. Indeed, his name means "from the mouth of shame!" He was lame in both feet and had no good background. He was from Lo Debar - literally in Hebrew from nothing and nowhere.

Yet, David wanted to be kind to him because of his relationship to Saul and Jonathan.

So, he brought him from nothing and no where to live with him in Jerusalem, eating from the king's table always.

It's very consoling to those of us who have little self confidence or self worth that Jesus brings us, small and weak, as we are, and sits us at His Table continually.

Did David have this in mind when he wrote:

Psalm 23:5-6 NKJV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

In the Lord's eyes we are all Mephibosheths, we bring nothing to His Table.

I can truly say to the Lord:

"What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?"

God loves us because of our relationship to His Son. When we accept Jesus, we are brought into His Family, to dwell there eternally.

Starting from now, hear God calling you to come to His Table and be fed with the Bread of Life in Jesus for always and forever.